Setting tool for bridging plugs



All@ M 3945 D. E. BATCHELDER I 2,382,770

. SETTING TOOL FOR BRIDGING PLUGS Filed March 5, 1942' @a Y ATTORNEYPatented Aug. 14, 1945 2,382,770 l s' SETG TOOL FOR BREGING PLUGS liieanE. Batchelder, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner te Lane-Wells Company, LosAngeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application Marcil 3, 1942,Serial No. 433,128

My invention relates to setting tools for bridging plugs: that is, todevices adapted to lower bridging plugsor other well tools into a well,manipulate the tool to secure it in the well bore and then disengagetherefrom. Among the objects oi my invention are:

First, to provide a setting tool which is adapted to be suspended from acable so that both the setting tool and the well device may be loweredthereby; Y

Second, to provide a setting tool which utilizes a novel compound blockor block and tackle arrangement for multiplying the setting forceapplied to the bridging plug, so that a multiple of the force applied tothe supporting cable is made available to set the well device;V

Third, to provide a setting tool which incorporates a precompressedspring so arranged that upon release the parts of the well tool aremoved into preliminary contact with the walls of the well bore or wellcasing, whereby tension may be applied to the cable to actuate the blockand tackle and thereby further set or secure the Well device; e Fourth,to, provide spring and block and tackle instrumentalities which are soarranged that no `operation of the block and tackle need take placeuntil all free movement of the'well device required to place the partsin operative engagement has taken place, so that the relative movementof movement a large number of pulley wheels may be employed to provide amaximum mechanical advantage; and

Fifth, to provide a setting tool which incorporates a novelreleasingmeans adapted to be actuated by an explosive charge.

With the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter,reference is directed to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of my setting tool shown attached to abridging plug suspended from a cable in order to be lowered into a wellborn;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of my setting tool after it has operatedand isv detached from the bridging plug;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional vview of my setting tool takenthrough 3 3 of Figure 1, indicating fragmentarily the parts of thebridgingplug to winch the setting tool is attached;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal secthrough 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figures 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views taken through 5-5 and 66,respectively, of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken through 'I-'I of Figure 3.My setting tool is particularly designed for setting or securing aAbridging plug within a well bore, but of course may be-utilized withany other well tool which is operated by moving two parts relative toeach other'a limited distance. For purposes of illustration my settingtool is shown in conjunction with a bridging plug I such as the typeshown in the Quintrell Patent No. 2,249,- 171 issued July 15, 1941. Thebridging plug includes a mandrel 2, the upper end of which is shown inFigure 3, on which is assembled a packing element 3, slip expanders 4and two sets of slips 5. A sleeve 6 bears downwardly on the upper set ofslips and the lower end of the mandrel terminates in a head so that bypulling upwardly on the mandrel and pressing downwardly on they sleevethe bridging plug may be set in a well casing.

My setting tool, designated generally by II, comprises a tool bodywhich, as shown, includes an end member I2, a shell I3 and a sleeve 21.

The end member I2 is tubular and counterbored Y to fit over vthe upperend of the sleeve 6. The upper end of the end member I2 is externallythreaded for attachment to a. shell I3. Housed within the shell I3 andlongitudinally slidable therein is a compound block system comprising alower or travelling pulley block I4 and upper or anchor pulley block.|5. The lower block is provided with a stem I6 which extends downwardlyand is attached to the upper end of the mandrel 2 of the bridging plugby a shear pin I'I. The

blocks I4 and I5 are each provided with a series` .of pulleys I8, aroundwhich is wrapped a wire line or flexible tension member preferably inthe form of a steel tape I3. The pulleys are graduated in size as shownso that several may be provided in each block arranged in tandem. Theblocks may be formed of cylindrical bars, the confronting ends of whichare slotted longitudinally', that is, bifurcated to receive and journalthe several pulleys. The pulleys have iiat 4pelxiplling means to ananchor bar 24, carried by the block I5, while the free end passes overan idler pulley Isa and through a central bore in the upper block I to apull bar 2I. 'Ihe lower end of the pull bar 2| is provided with a clamp22 adapted to receive and secure the free end of the tape I9.

The upper end of the shell I3 is provided with upwardly facing internalwickers 23. The upper block I5 is provided with splitV catch rings 24which are beveled on the outer surfaces at angles adapted to t those ofthe inner surfaces of the wickers. These rings are carried in the blockI5 in annular channels under radial compression and are thus adapted toexpand into and interlock with the wickers 23 upon upward movement ofthe block I5 to form a one-way clutch so that the upper block I5 maymove upwardly with respect to the shell I3 as hereinafter described. butis locked against relative downward movement.

The upper pulley block I5 is provided with a` shoulder 25 so that itsupper portion forms a snug sliding fit in the shell I3, while its lowerportion is reduced in diameter. fIhe lower block is equal in diameter tothe reduced Portion of the upper block so as to slide in the end memberI2 and define with the shell I3 an annular space. Between the shoulder25 and the upper internal end of the end member I2 is mounted a helicall spring 26. Initially, as illustrated in Figure 3, the spring 26 isunder compression and tends to raise both the upper block I5 and lowerblock I4 asa unit, all without movement of the tape around the pulleysI8. I'his .tends to move the parts of the bridging plug from theposition shown in Figure l to a partially collapsed or set position withthe slips 5 and the packing element 3 in contact with a surroundingcasing before the pull bar 2l moves away from the upper block. However,this motion is initially restrained by the pull bar 2| acting incompression between the block I5 and a locking arrangement fixed to theupper end oi the sleeve 21 as hereinafter described.

A sleeve 21 is attached to the upper end of the shell I3 and receives atits upper end a collar 26. The upper end of the pull bar 2I is providedwith a head member 29, the upper end of which is ex` ternally threadedand forms a gun barrel 30. The gun barrel screws into a gun body 3I anddefines therewith a cartridge chamber 32 which receives a cartridge 33.An electrical conductor 34 extends from the upper end of the body intothe cartridge chamber 32 and the cartridge is provided with means (notshown) whereby it may be ignited electrically. The upper end of the gunbody is attached to a cable head 36 which in turn is attached to a cable31, which has a conductorI (not shown) for connection with the conductor34.

The gun barrel 30 is provided with a bore which receives the stem 38 ofa keeper member 39. Below the gun bore in the gun barrel 30 the headmember 29 is counterbored, as indicated at 40, and the lower end of thekeeper 39 is provided with a conical head 4I. The collar 23 and headmember 29 are provided with key holes 42 and 43, respectively, whichregister as shown in Figures 4 and 5 and receive key balls 44. The head4I of the keeper is initially so positioned that the key balls aremainly within the key holes 43 and extend only partially into the keyholes 42 of the collar 26, so that the collar and head member areinitially locked together. When the keeper is moved downwardly the ballsare permitted to move inwardly far enough to clear the holes 42 and thusto free the head member 29 and bar 2l for longitudinal movement withinthe collar 25. Set screws 45 in the key holes 42 prevent the balls fromfalling outwardly. The keeper 39 is secured at its upper end to a sheardisk 46 which is clamped between the end of the gun barrel and the gunbody. 'I'he shear disk initially holds the keeper in its upper position,but upon ignition of the cartridge it is ruptured and the explosiveforce drives the keeper downwardly. In order to minimize the resistanceoiered by liquid, should the setting tool be submerged when inoperation, slots 41 are provided along the counterbore 40.

The operation of my setting tool is as follows: The bridging plug Iandthe setting tool II are initially assembled as shown in Figure 1. Inthis initially assembled condition the spring 26 extending between theupper end of end member I2 and the shoulder 25 of the block I5 is fullycompressed and held in this fully compressed condition by the pull bar2| which initially functions as a compression strut between the block I5and the collar 28 fixed to the upper end of the sleeve 21. Thus thecompressive force of the spring 26 is opposed by compressive stresscarried through the pull bar 2I, which force is in turn resisted byequal tensile stress in the sleeves 21 and I3.

After the bridging plug I and the setting tool II have been lowered tothe desired position in the bore hole where it is to be set, theexplosive cartridge 33 is then red by an electrical current conducted toit through the insulated conductor 34 as beforedescribe'd. The resultantdischarge of the cartridge 33 ruptures the disk 46 at the point ofattachment of the keeper stem 38, allow- 40 ing the keeper 39, togetherwith the conical head 4I, to be driven downwardly within the slottedhead member 29. The conical head 4I is thus carried downward out ofcontact with the key balls 44, thereby releasing said key balls forinward movement through the holes 43 in the head member 29 to positionsclearing the adjacent key holes 42 in the collar 28. .The head member 29and the bar 2I are thus freed for upward movement through the collar 28.The bar 2I thus being freed for upward movement, its restraint uponblock I5 is thereby removed and the spring 26 is then able to force thetwo traveling blocks I4 and I5 upward together as a unit, within theshell I3, with the result that relative longitudinal motion is thusimparted between the shell I3 and the stem I5. This relativelongitudinal motion results, in effect, in the transference of thespring force downward through the shell I3, end member I2 and sleeve 6to the upper ends of the upper slips 5, and equal force upward on thelower ends of the lower slips 5 through the mandrel 2, shear pin I1'andstem I6. This initial upward motion imparted to the blocks I4 and I5 bymeans of the spring 25 is at the same time suiilcient to bring the rings24 in block I5 into locking engagement with the wickers 23 in the upperend portion of the shell I3. The block I5 is thus looked in the shell I3against subsequent downward motion.

The spring 26 is made sumciently strong in applying pressure to theupper a'nd lower ends oi' the slips 5, as before described, to force theslips outwardly'along the slip expanders 4 into contact with thesurrounding casing, and to axially compress the packing element 3slightly to thereby effect a preliminary engagement between the bridgingplug I and the well casing.

After the bridging plug has been placed in preliminary engagement withthe well casing, as before described, with sufhcient firmness to holdthe bridging plug in place against upward movement and the block i hasbeen moved upward into locked engagement with the wickers 23, tension isthen applied to cable 31 which is attached to th'e cable head 36, suchtension being suillcient to lift the cable head 36 and gun body 3| oil?the upper end of the collar 28, and thus to impart upward motion throughthe attached gun body 3|, gun.

barrel 30, head member 29, pull bar 2|, and clamp 22 to the upper end ofthe flexible tension member or line I9. In thus imparting upward motionto the pull bar 2| the lower end thereof is moved upwardly from theblock I5 and the flexible tension member i9 is thus withdrawn from thecompound block over the idler pulley |8a to forcefully draw the lowertraveling pulley block I4 upward toward the anchored upper anch'orpulley block I5. The force thus applied between the blocks I4 and i5 ofthe compound block is respectively transmitted to the packer in tensionfrom traveling block Id through the stem I6, shear pin il and mandrel 2to the lower set of slips 5, and in equal compression from the anchorblock I5 through' the Wickers 23, shell I3, end member I2 and sleeve 6to the upper set of slips 5. Upward travel of the cable 31 is continueduntil the tension transmitted through the stem I6 and mandrel 2 from thecompound block to the bridging plug is greater than the shear strengthof the shear pin I1. Th'e strength of the shear pin il is made such thatbefore shearing, sulcient force may be applied to the elements of thebridging plug from the compound block to effect complete and finalsetting thereof in place in the well bore.

Upon shearing of the pin the stem I6 is thereby detached from themandrel 2 and th'e compound block |4|5 and its enclosing shell I3,together with the sleeve 27 and all the associated mechanism above thesleeve 6 is then free to be detached from and lifted ofi. of the shell 6by continued upward motion of the cable 37.

Alt-hough not essential, it is preferred that the pull bar 2| and thesleeve 21 `withinrwhich it is slidably housed be made sufilciently longthat throughout the range of its motion required for complete operationof the setting tool the pull bar remains within the sleeve 2l. In orderto remove any load on the flexible tension membeg` I9 when ilnallypulling th'e setting tool from the well bore after shearing the pin i?,a small shoulder 48 may be provided at the lower end of the pull baradapted to make contact with the interior of the collar 28 at the upperextremity of its upward motion therein. The collar 28, for this purpose,may

have an internal diameter slightly smaller than the sleeve 21 to engagethe shoulder 48 and stop the outward movement'of the pull bar.

A particular advantage of the apparatus of this invention resides in thefact that by reason oi the plurality'of pulleys comprising the compoundl block, it is possible to exert a setting force on the bridging plugequal to several times the stress that can be taken on the cable 31.Another obvious advantage of the apparatus of this invention resides Ainits being lowered into the bore j hole and operated by means of a cable,thus obviating the necessity of employing casing and tubing inconnection with the bridging plug setting operation.

While a bridging plug is illustrated as the device flexible tensionmember to cause relative displace of th'e well device are brought intopreliminary operative contact with the well casing, after which a finalforceful movement of these elements is required for completion of theoperation, may be operated by my setting tool.

I claim:

1. A setting tool for Well devices having elements requiring forcefuldisplacement relative to one another for effecting operation Within awell bore, said tool comprising a tool body, a compound block systemhaving an anchor block and an oppositely positioned traveling block,means for operatively connecting and transmitting displacement of saidtraveling block to one of said well device elements, means between saidanchor block and said tool body for transmitting any displacement ofsaid anchor block toward said traveling block through said tool body tothe other of said well device elements, a flexible tension memberpassing around and extending between pulleys on said blocks, the deadend of said tension member being anchored to said tool, a cableconnected to the free end of said tension member, releasable meansassociated with. said tool body to initially restrain said cable andsaid free end of said tension member from movement with respect to saidtool body, and means for releasing said restraining means while saidtool is in a well -bore whereby tension in said cable may be operativelyapplied through' said flexible tension member to cause relative ment ofsaid blocks.

2. A setting tool as defined by claim 1, in which said means foroperatively connecting and transmitting displacement of said travelingblock to one of said well device elements includes a member releasableupon application of a predeter mined maximum force therethrough. f

3. A setting tool for well devices having elements requiring forcefuldisplacement relative to one another for effecting operation within awell bore, said tool comprising a tool body, a compound block systemhaving an anchor block and an oppositely positioned Vtraveling block,means for operatively connecting and transmitting displacement of saidtraveling block to one of said and said free end of said tension memberfrom,

movement with respect to` said tool body, and means for releasing saidrestraining means while said tool is in a well bore whereby tension insaid cable may be operatively applied through said ment of said blocks.

4. A setting tool for well devices having elements requiring forcefuldisplacement relative to one another for effecting operation within awell bore, said tool comprising a tool body, a compound block systemhaving an anchor block and an oppositely positioned traveling block,means for operatively connecting and transmitting disdisplace-` free endof said tension member from movement with respect to said tool body, andmeans for releasing said restraining means while said tool is in a wellbore whereby tension in said cable may be operatively applied throughsaid flexible tension member `to cause relative displacement of saidblocks.

5. A setting tool as defined by claim 4, in which said means foroperatively connecting and transmitting displacement of said travelingbloc to one of said well device elements includes a m ber releasableupon application o1' a predetermined maximum torce therethrough.

DEAN E. BATCHELD

